South Sudan conflict: Both sides 'forcefully recruit boys as young 13 as child soldiers'

Government and opposition forces in South Sudan are forcibly recruiting boys as young as 13 as child soldiersGetty

The South Sudanese government and opposition forces are allegedly recruiting boys as young as 13 to fight in the civil war which has claimed thousands of lives.

According to a recent report by Human Rights Watch (HRW), both warring factions are using child soldiers in combat, which amounts to war crimes when the boys are younger than 15.

The rights group urged President Salva Kiir and his counterpart, former Prime Minister Riek Machar, to stop employing children under 18 and help those already recruited go back home.

"Despite renewed promises by both government and opposition forces that they will stop using child soldiers, both sides continue to recruit and use children in combat," said Daniel Bekele, Africa director at HRW. "In Malakal, government forces are even taking children from right outside the United Nations compound."

"For every child released, it's the chance for a new life," said Unicef South Sudan representative Jonathan Veitch. "We are witnessing the negative consequences that being in an armed group has had on the boys; some are withdrawn while others exhibit violent and aggressive behaviour. Instead of playing, they march up and down.

"To avoid the risk of re-recruitment and to ensure that each child can fulfil their potential, they need a protective environment where they not only receive food and water, but also counselling, life skills and the opportunity to go back to school."

Unicef appealed for $13m (£8.5m) to fund the immediate needs of the released children and the vulnerable communities where they live.

The South Sudan conflict erupted in December 2013 when Kiir, from the Dinka ethnic group, accused then vice-president Machar of plotting to overthrow the regime.